‘He Was Supposed To Be In The Stands’: Hance Dedicates Gold To His Late Father

Australia has produced another stellar night in the pool at Paris La Defense Arena, highlighted by two Paralympic gold medals. 

Sunshine Coast-based Ben Hance led the way in breaking the men’s 100m backstroke S14 world record, clocking 56.52 in the heats and then dominated the final to claim gold on day nine of the competition.            

The reigning Paralympic champion took an early lead and was never in any danger of being beaten, stopping the clock at 57.04 seconds. 

“No pressure winning the first one, but everyone expects you to win the second one,” Hance said of his performances across two Games. 

“I’m glad I have the gold medal now, and hell, even got a world record.” 

Hance, 24, lowered his own world record by 0.36 of a second in the morning heats. His effort in the final was a little slower, but he triumphed over Brazil’s Gabriel Bandeira taking silver and Great Britain’s Mark Tompsett claiming the bronze. 

Hance admitted it has been a tough year following the death of his father. 

“I just want to thank my father for everything he’s done,” he said. 

“He always loved my backstroke and I’m glad I gave him the gold medal tonight. 

“He was supposed to be in the stands.” 

Another Sunshine Coast product, Callum Simpson, celebrated his debut Paralympics with gold in the men’s S8 100m freestyle. 

In a blanket finish, Simpson touched in at 58.23 seconds, just 0.02 ahead of Noah Jaffe with Italian Alberto Amodeo third, another 0.05 back. 

“I didn’t even know I won at the time because I saw the other person right beside me coming up and I knew I needed to get the lunge,” the 17-year-old said.  

“When I saw my name on the board at first place, it’s a feeling I would never forget in my whole life.” 

Already with two gold medals in Paris from the S9 200m individual medley and the mixed medley relay, Tim Hodge produced another impressive performance taking silver in the men’s S9 100m butterfly. 

Hodge hit the wall behind Italian Simone Barlaam, who needed a European record of 57.99 seconds to win. 

Reflecting on his campaign, Hodge gave a powerful message on the importance and influence of Paralympians on the Australian public. 

“While the Olympics is the epitome of human excellence, Paralympics is the epitome of human resilience, and for people at home, they can relate to that more,” he said. 

“In order to kind of build that Paralympic movement and make sure it endures for future generations, I think the funding really needs to be there when the athletes need it.” 

Debutant Lewis Bishop is part the next generation of Paralympians and made the most of his first swim at the level with a blistering second lap dash to take the bronze behind teammate Hodge. 

“I had no pressure myself, sort of just making a final was great for me,” Bishop, 19, said after the race.  

“I was so pumped to look up there and see that I came third, I still can’t believe it.” 

Bishop found himself with the entire field ahead of him at the turn but recovered incredibility to touch out Italian Federico Morlacchi for a place on the podium.  

“I don’t know how I did it, I can’t wait to re-watch the race,” he said. 

In the women’s S9 100m butterfly, Emily Beecroft produced a similar effort to Bishop as she added to her medal collection with a bronze. 

“Just super relieved,” Beecroft, 24, said when asked about her reaction to her swim. 

“I knew coming in tonight that I was capable of getting a podium finish and I just had to not panic and execute my race.” 

A gold medallist in the mixed relay, Beecroft (1:07.96) finished strongly to touch behind Britain’s Christie Raleigh-Crossley (1:05.19) and Hungary’s Zsofia Konkoly (1:06.79). 

“I guess I’m known for my back end of the race,” she said. 

“I knew if I put myself in a good position going into the first 50 that I could bring it home.” 

Chasing her third consecutive gold medal in the women’s S4 50m freestyle, Rachael Watson was beaten by a world record from the United States’ Leanne Smith (40.03) with German Tanja Scholz (40.75) in second place. However, the presentation ceremony was held over, pending the outcome of a protest by Brazil.

Tom Gallagher snatched bronze in the men’s S10 100m backstroke, touching the wall just 12 hundredths of a second before Italian rival Riccardo Menciotti. Dutchman Olivier van de Voort took the gold and Italian Stefano Raimondo the silver. 

“I have no words, there was no game plan, just go out hard and back my training and I think I’ve shown this week that I’m a good racer, so I was pretty confident,” said Gallagher. 

“I’m not one for really enjoying the moment but for once I think I’m going to give myself that opportunity to soak it in and enjoy it. I will continue to LA obviously. I’ve got big plans.” 

The 25-year-old ends his campaign with a gold (50m freestyle) and two bronze medals. 

By: Jodie Hawkins, Paralympics Austrlia

Published: 6 September 2024